“I am hungry.”
“You shall have something to eat right away. I’ve laid off my course so as to put you ashore as soon as it was safe.”
Ike did not deem it necessary to dispute this latter statement but said:
“Feed me, please.”
The captain led him up to the deck, took him back to the cabin and did offer him some food, saying:
“It will be all right when you get ashore. And say, lad, I don’t want you ever to say anything about your being on my boat. I swear I did all to save your life; yes, I did.”
Ike was not disposed to dispute anything that the captain said. All he desired was to get ashore. He believed a great mystery had opened up in New York which he could solve, and he was anxious to get to the city as quickly as he could.
A couple of hours passed. It was just a little before dawn when the captain hauled to off the Fire Island lighthouse. He had given directions to his men where to meet him. Ike was standing on the deck when a lad came stealing up close to him, who whispered:
“I gave you the water and bread. Don’t ever tell on me or they will kill me.”
“What is your name?”